Shootout Reported in Kodori

Shots have been heard in troubled Kodori gorge, Georgian InterPressNews agency reported.

Russian television, citing Russian peacekeeping command in Abkhazia, also reported that a shootout is taking place near the village Omarishara in Kodori gorge.
 
On July 25 Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili ruled out a military operation against rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani in Kodori gorge, but said that a police operation was possible to restore rule and order in the gorge.

Irakli Batiashvili of the Forward Georgia opposition party said in the evening of July 25 that he was contacted by Emzar Kvitsiani, who said that clashes had erupted with Interior and Defense Ministry forces near the village of Sakeni in Kodori gorge.

Meanwhile, Rustavi 2 television reported ?unofficial information? that Emzar Kvitsiani has fled Kodori for Sokhumi, the capital of breakaway Abkhazia.

Independent confirmation of these reports is yet unavailable.

?I can not say anything about these reports. It is up to the Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry to comment about these reports,? Vice-Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Mikheil Machavariani said.

As of yet, comments are unavailable from both ministries.

MP Machavariani reiterated an official position of Tbilisi and said that Russia is behind rebellious warlord Kvitsiani.

Russia warned on July 25 that use of force in Kodori might lead to a new conflict in the region.

Upper Kodori gorge is the only territory of breakaway Abkhazia out of the secessionist authorities? control.

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